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Popular Astronomy (UK magazine)

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Popular Astronomy
May–June 2018
EditorRobin Scagell
CategoriesAmateur astronomy
FrequencyBimonthly
PublisherSociety for Popular Astronomy
First issue1953 (1953)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Websitehttp://www.popastro.com/main_spa1/about-the-spa/our-lively-magazine-popular-astronomy/
ISSN0261-0892

Popular Astronomy is the bi-monthly magazine of the UK's Society for Popular Astronomy, published in January, March, May, July, September and November.

History and profile

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The magazine was started in 1953 with the name The Junior Astronomer.[1] Before 2011 it was a quarterly publication. Before 1981 the journal was known as Hermes,[2] and earlier still it was called The Junior Astronomer. The magazine is published by the Society for Popular Astronomy, a national society for amateur astronomers.[3]

The magazine aims to present the science in plain English, avoiding unnecessary jargon. As well as main features covering professional and amateur research, regular articles include:

  • AstroNews - updates on some of the most interesting current developments in professional astronomy;
  • Amateur Scene - a look around local astronomy clubs;
  • Deep Sky Notes - surveying the season's deep celestial sights;
  • Sky Diary - what's happening in the sky in the coming weeks;
  • Glorious Universe - comparing amateur and professional observations of celestial objects and phenomena;
  • Also, readers' letters, plus book and product reviews, society news, competitions and more.

The magazine also includes a section for Young Stargazers to help younger readers to understand modern astronomy.

Editors past and present

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  • Richard Baum (1953 June–1955 October)
  • Patrick Moore (1956)
  • Richard Baum (1957 January–July)
  • Gilbert Satterthwaite (1957 October–1961 April)
  • John Lytheer (1961 July–1964 April)
  • George Teideman (1964 July–1967 April)
  • Ian Ridpath (1967 July–1974 April)
  • Paul Sutherland (1974 July–1982 July)
  • Enid Lake (1982 October–1985 October)
  • Ian Ridpath (1986 January–1989 July; editor-in-chief until 1992 October)
  • Tom Hosking (1989 October–2000 July)
  • Peter Grego (2000 October–2016 February)
  • Amanda Doyle (2016 February-2018 July)
  • Mandy Bailey (acting ed.) (2018 July-2019 January)
  • Osnat Katz (2019 January-2020 January)
  • Robin Scagell (acting ed.) (2020 January- ).

Changes of name: The Junior Astronomer from 1953 June until 1960 July; Hermes from 1960 October to 1980 October; Popular Astronomy 1981 January to present.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "50 Years of the Society for Popular Astronomy" (PDF). Federation of Astronomical Societies Newsletter (72). Spring 2003. ISSN 1361-4126. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Popular Astronomy Writers' Guide". SPA. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. ^ New Scientist. Reed Business Information. 21 October 1976. p. 191. ISSN 0262-4079. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
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